May your days be merry and bright!!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
What we've been up to...
A little of this and a little of that...
Santa Clause is officially done coming to town for little miss Briley! I think she is going to be one excited little girl on Christmas morning! BUT, I defiantly want her to know what CHRISTmas is really about. Not about shopping, not about presents, not about Santa, but about the birth of Jesus Christ. I want her to experience the magic of Santa and everything that entails but to also know and understand why we really celebrate Christmas. I do believe you can do both it's just how you go about doing it that matters. I was so excited when I found this this last week at toys r us. It really wasn't in the budget but we felt it was a very appropriate toy to "splurge" on, not to mention I have been trying to find one for months, plus it was on sale and I had a coupon! Briley loves Jesus, not that she really understands Him right now but she loves saying His name 100+ times a day, she loves when we sing Jesus Love Me and Jesus Loves the Little Children, etc, and now she loves to hold baby Jesus (and the Camel or Mamel as she calls it, HA!). We also got her a "Jesus Loves Me" DVD for Christmas. It's basically a bunch of children's Christmas songs and they dance and sing her name in all of them. She has already watched it a few times (before I wrapped it) and she loves it! I think we are off to a good starting point so far!
Most of our other Christmas shopping is done and wrapped too! I am very proud of myself for that because I usually wait till the last minute. We still aren't 100% done but i'd say about 85% done, which is great! I have certainly neglected my house in the process so I know what I will be doing the next few days...cleaning! Yay me! lol
We have had a pretty relaxing last 2 weekends which has been nice but not so relaxing weekdays.
Let me explain...I have had car trouble multiple times, nothing major...for instance 1 day I rolled my windows down because they were fogging up, well it was so cold that the front passenger window would not come back up. Luckily I hadn't gone very far so I had to turn around and go back home because I couldn't drive Briley with the car window down. I took Michael's car and he took mine. The motor ended up freezing and now it needs to be replaced. Great, right?! They got the window up but we have yet to get it fixed yet. Hopefully we can cross that off the list very soon.
The other issue with my car happened yesterday, the heat stops working. Great! Especially when it's 18 degrees out. Oh, and did I mention that the rain falling on my windshield is freezing as i'm driving so I have to pull over to scrape my windshield so I can see. It was like a sheet of glass and I might as well have taken my contacts out because that's how clear it was! Not Good! Luckily all I needed was some antifreeze and the heat is perfect again.
My 3rd dilemma for the week was Tuesday when I locked myself and Briley out of the house. Genius, huh? That was by far the worst day we have had because we were outside for 20 minutes before we were "rescued" (and it was 15 degrees out). I just got in a rush trying to get out the door for work, well we got out the door alright. Got out without the keys. Briley did ok for the first 10 minutes or so and after that it was pure melt down mode. I had her in my coat (luckily we were both bundled up) trying to keep her as warm as possible and I was trying to blow warm air on her. That was a very traumatic experience to say the least, mainly because of how cold it was. I was so paranoid I ended up calling the pediatrician but luckily they said everything would be fine and there was no need to worry. We were supposed to go get Briley's picture made with Santa that night but lets just say we decided to wait on that one ;o) Hopefully we can make it to see Santa either today or tomorrow.
On a better note Briley turned 20 months yesterday, the 15th! I can't believe she is almost 2! Holy Cow! It blows my mind to think we will be planning her 2nd birthday in a few months. I really am loving each stage she goes through but sometimes I wish I could just freeze frame time for a while. She is such a joy! I really feel so blessed to be her mamma! Here are a few pics from the last few weeks :o)
Santa Clause is officially done coming to town for little miss Briley! I think she is going to be one excited little girl on Christmas morning! BUT, I defiantly want her to know what CHRISTmas is really about. Not about shopping, not about presents, not about Santa, but about the birth of Jesus Christ. I want her to experience the magic of Santa and everything that entails but to also know and understand why we really celebrate Christmas. I do believe you can do both it's just how you go about doing it that matters. I was so excited when I found this this last week at toys r us. It really wasn't in the budget but we felt it was a very appropriate toy to "splurge" on, not to mention I have been trying to find one for months, plus it was on sale and I had a coupon! Briley loves Jesus, not that she really understands Him right now but she loves saying His name 100+ times a day, she loves when we sing Jesus Love Me and Jesus Loves the Little Children, etc, and now she loves to hold baby Jesus (and the Camel or Mamel as she calls it, HA!). We also got her a "Jesus Loves Me" DVD for Christmas. It's basically a bunch of children's Christmas songs and they dance and sing her name in all of them. She has already watched it a few times (before I wrapped it) and she loves it! I think we are off to a good starting point so far!
Most of our other Christmas shopping is done and wrapped too! I am very proud of myself for that because I usually wait till the last minute. We still aren't 100% done but i'd say about 85% done, which is great! I have certainly neglected my house in the process so I know what I will be doing the next few days...cleaning! Yay me! lol
We have had a pretty relaxing last 2 weekends which has been nice but not so relaxing weekdays.
Let me explain...I have had car trouble multiple times, nothing major...for instance 1 day I rolled my windows down because they were fogging up, well it was so cold that the front passenger window would not come back up. Luckily I hadn't gone very far so I had to turn around and go back home because I couldn't drive Briley with the car window down. I took Michael's car and he took mine. The motor ended up freezing and now it needs to be replaced. Great, right?! They got the window up but we have yet to get it fixed yet. Hopefully we can cross that off the list very soon.
The other issue with my car happened yesterday, the heat stops working. Great! Especially when it's 18 degrees out. Oh, and did I mention that the rain falling on my windshield is freezing as i'm driving so I have to pull over to scrape my windshield so I can see. It was like a sheet of glass and I might as well have taken my contacts out because that's how clear it was! Not Good! Luckily all I needed was some antifreeze and the heat is perfect again.
My 3rd dilemma for the week was Tuesday when I locked myself and Briley out of the house. Genius, huh? That was by far the worst day we have had because we were outside for 20 minutes before we were "rescued" (and it was 15 degrees out). I just got in a rush trying to get out the door for work, well we got out the door alright. Got out without the keys. Briley did ok for the first 10 minutes or so and after that it was pure melt down mode. I had her in my coat (luckily we were both bundled up) trying to keep her as warm as possible and I was trying to blow warm air on her. That was a very traumatic experience to say the least, mainly because of how cold it was. I was so paranoid I ended up calling the pediatrician but luckily they said everything would be fine and there was no need to worry. We were supposed to go get Briley's picture made with Santa that night but lets just say we decided to wait on that one ;o) Hopefully we can make it to see Santa either today or tomorrow.
On a better note Briley turned 20 months yesterday, the 15th! I can't believe she is almost 2! Holy Cow! It blows my mind to think we will be planning her 2nd birthday in a few months. I really am loving each stage she goes through but sometimes I wish I could just freeze frame time for a while. She is such a joy! I really feel so blessed to be her mamma! Here are a few pics from the last few weeks :o)
After church one day, throwing one of her little fits (terrible twos are coming, I can feel it!)
Get these shoes off of me
Before her 18 month check-up last week...we didn't do her 18 month check up until then, mainly because I was dreading the shots. Well guess what? She didn't need any shots, besides the flu shot she was up-to-date. Ha! Makes me feel sort of silly for putting it off now but oh well! She was 32 1/2" long and 26lbs 9oz (she was 30 1/2" long and 24lbs 14 oz at her 15 month check up)
Brushing her teeth like a big girl!
Check out the bows on my toes!
And the B in my hair!
Playing at Gi Gi's...she loves the STEPS!
Pretty girl in her Christmas dress!
This smile melts me heart <3
Monday, December 13, 2010
Thanksgiving Fun!
So I started drafting this message like 2 1/2 weeks ago and completely forgot to finish. Go me! Anyway Thanksgiving was fun and hectic, as always, but more on the fun side :o). I cooked alot (6 casseroles and 2 desserts) and it was yummy along with all of the other goodies we ate. We had 3 stops to make, 2 on Thanksgiving day and 1 the day after. I'm pretty sure I gained 10lbs those 2 days but it was all so worth it! We didn't go black Friday shopping, I usually don't since we have Thanksgiving with my family the day after and also because I just don't feel like getting up at the crack of dawn and waiting in the long lines! I'm sure I will when Briley gets a little older and the deals are worth going for but for now i'm good sleeping in that day ;o)!
I also attempted a little photo shoot with Briley during Thanksgiving "break" to try and get a shot for the Christmas card. She doesn't do really well in front of the camera right now either but we got some decent pictures anyway. During the process, she ended up falling down in the driveway and scratching her little nose. I so felt horrible. We both cried our eyes out! She is always tripping over her own 2 feet and sadly to say, she gets it from me. We are both very clumsy! I just hope she grows out of it :o(
Sunday we went shopping in Nashville. It was "ok". We really didn't have anyone to keep Briley that day since it was on a Sunday morning when we went. She does NOT do well in the car these days, or with shopping for long periods of time and it was pretty much torture for her. She did ok on the way up there and it was down hill from there. I felt so bad for her. Needless to say we didn't get done what we had planned on getting done and it pretty much stressed everyone out. But it is what it is. I just hated that Briley was so unhappy!
Here are a few pictures from the week/weekend!!
I also attempted a little photo shoot with Briley during Thanksgiving "break" to try and get a shot for the Christmas card. She doesn't do really well in front of the camera right now either but we got some decent pictures anyway. During the process, she ended up falling down in the driveway and scratching her little nose. I so felt horrible. We both cried our eyes out! She is always tripping over her own 2 feet and sadly to say, she gets it from me. We are both very clumsy! I just hope she grows out of it :o(
Sunday we went shopping in Nashville. It was "ok". We really didn't have anyone to keep Briley that day since it was on a Sunday morning when we went. She does NOT do well in the car these days, or with shopping for long periods of time and it was pretty much torture for her. She did ok on the way up there and it was down hill from there. I felt so bad for her. Needless to say we didn't get done what we had planned on getting done and it pretty much stressed everyone out. But it is what it is. I just hated that Briley was so unhappy!
Here are a few pictures from the week/weekend!!
Silly girl playing one night before bed!
I thought this was a funny face! She is all about making goofy faces right now!
Day before Thanksgiving~Poor thing was ready for a nap before we even made it out the door that day!
Looking for Elmo! She loves to get into the movie drawer. Guess I should probably move it up where she can't reach it! lol
Happy Turkey Day! Briley looks thrilled!
Cutie Pie in her Turkey attire!
Chowing Down! Miss picky only ate turkey, mac and cheese, and rolls all day! lol
This is how she really felt taking Christmas card pictures...
She finally calmed down...this was a runner up
But this was our WINNER! I would have loved to see some teeth but this picture really does describe her perfectly! Funny, sweet, happy, sneaky, and just plain precious!
After we scratched our nose. Poor baby!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Christmas Card Time!!!
It's that time again! I love getting Christmas cards in the mail just as much as I love sending them out!! I get so excited about checking the mail during the month of December!!
We had planned on having some professional photos taken of Briley but I decided to try having a mini photo shoot with her on my own. The pictures didn't go quite as well as I had hoped but I do think I got a few "card worthy" shots! lol, She ended up triping while we were outside and getting a horrible scratch on her nose! Poor thing, she is always triping over her own 2 feet and unfortunatly she gets that from me :o/ We are both very clumsy girls!
But I will say the picture we choose is very sweet, fun, and cute. Last years card was a little more formal so this year we wanted something a little more fun! I am loving SHUTTERFLY ya'll!! They have unlimited designs weather you want traditional, formal, quirky, fun, bright, or modern. They have every style/color imaginable! Definatly makes it a little hard to decide!! :o)
Check out some of the links to my favorite shutterfly pages
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards
http://www.shutterfly.com/upload-pictures
***Attention all bloggers!!! This is a GREAT promotion!!!***
BLOGGERS GET 50 FREE HOLIDAY CARDS FROM SHUTTERFLY..... LEARN MORE:
http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/
If you have a blog, check it out!! What an awesome deal!!
We had planned on having some professional photos taken of Briley but I decided to try having a mini photo shoot with her on my own. The pictures didn't go quite as well as I had hoped but I do think I got a few "card worthy" shots! lol, She ended up triping while we were outside and getting a horrible scratch on her nose! Poor thing, she is always triping over her own 2 feet and unfortunatly she gets that from me :o/ We are both very clumsy girls!
But I will say the picture we choose is very sweet, fun, and cute. Last years card was a little more formal so this year we wanted something a little more fun! I am loving SHUTTERFLY ya'll!! They have unlimited designs weather you want traditional, formal, quirky, fun, bright, or modern. They have every style/color imaginable! Definatly makes it a little hard to decide!! :o)
Check out some of the links to my favorite shutterfly pages
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards
http://www.shutterfly.com/upload-pictures
***Attention all bloggers!!! This is a GREAT promotion!!!***
BLOGGERS GET 50 FREE HOLIDAY CARDS FROM SHUTTERFLY..... LEARN MORE:
http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/
If you have a blog, check it out!! What an awesome deal!!
In the Words of Linus
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown"
~Linus Van Pelt ~ A Charlie Brown Christmas
Well said Linus...Jesus is the reason for the season!
Just a little reminder of what Christmas is really about. Sometimes I think we loose sight of this, me in particular. I hope everyone is having a great start to the Holiday Season and a Happy December!
~Linus Van Pelt ~ A Charlie Brown Christmas
Well said Linus...Jesus is the reason for the season!
Just a little reminder of what Christmas is really about. Sometimes I think we loose sight of this, me in particular. I hope everyone is having a great start to the Holiday Season and a Happy December!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
What I am Thankful For Saturday
Day 7 of Thanksgiving week...Saturday, I am Thankful for Food, Clothing, and Shelter!
I know these 3 are basic needs but it amazes me and saddens me for how many people on this earth do not have 1 or more of these needs. I am so very grateful that God has blessed me with such a wonderful life with so much more than I deserve.
Thank you God, for putting food in my stomach, clothes on my back, and a roof over my head! Thank you for taking care of me and my family. I feel so very blessed!
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
I know these 3 are basic needs but it amazes me and saddens me for how many people on this earth do not have 1 or more of these needs. I am so very grateful that God has blessed me with such a wonderful life with so much more than I deserve.
Thank you God, for putting food in my stomach, clothes on my back, and a roof over my head! Thank you for taking care of me and my family. I feel so very blessed!
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
Friday, November 26, 2010
What I am Thankful For Thursday and Friday
Day 5 & 6 of Thanksgiving week...Thursday and Friday, I am Thankful for my Family and Friends!
I feel like family and friends sort of go hand in hand so I thought they should share the spotlight! They are apart of me and make me who I am...they are always there when I need them, no matter what...I am thankful for the help and support they give...I am grateful for the wisdom they share...They are all beautiful people inside and out!
Thanks guys for being apart of my life! I Love you all!
I feel like family and friends sort of go hand in hand so I thought they should share the spotlight! They are apart of me and make me who I am...they are always there when I need them, no matter what...I am thankful for the help and support they give...I am grateful for the wisdom they share...They are all beautiful people inside and out!
Thanks guys for being apart of my life! I Love you all!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sweet Treats!
Sweets are always a huge part of the Holidays! I want to share one of my all time favorites, Apple Crumb Pie! So Delish and I promise it will not disappoint! Enjoy!
Directions: In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in confectioners sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla Stir in chocolate chips. Cover and chill for 2 hours. Next, shape into ball, wrap with plastic wrap and chill for another hour. Lastly, roll in finely chopped pecans before serving.
~I choose not to use the pecans and it turned out great! Serve with chocolate animal crackers, graham crackers, and pirouette cookies!
Apple Crumb Pie
Filling:
Pastry for a single crust 9-inch pie (I like the kind that you roll out)
6 cups chopped, peeled tart apples (I use granny smith apples ~ just a tip, chop in thin slices)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons sour cream
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cold butter
Directions: Line a 9 inch pie plate with pastry, flute edges. In a large bowl, combine apples, butter, sour cream, lemon juice, sugar, flour, & cinnamon. Spoon into pastry shell. For topping, combine flour and sugar in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over filling.
Bake at 375 for 45-50 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and the apples are tender. Cool before serving.
For an added bonus, a new favorite is the Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball! I saw this recipe a few weeks ago on Kelly's Korner and just knew I had to try it. It turned out wonderfully! I hope you think so too!
Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup of butter, softened
3/4 cup of confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)
~I choose not to use the pecans and it turned out great! Serve with chocolate animal crackers, graham crackers, and pirouette cookies!
What I am Thankful For Wednesday
Day 4 of Thanksgiving week...Wednesday, I am Thankful for my health! I am so very greatful to have good health, not perfect but good.
No matter how healthy or unhealthy I am and will ever be, there is always someone else who is going to be worse off.
No matter how healthy or unhealthy I am and will ever be, there is always someone else who is going to be worse off.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
What I am Thankful For Tuesday
Day 3 of Thanksgiving week...Tuesday, I am Thankful for my sweet baby girl, Briley!
"The decision to have a child is to accept that your heart will forever walk about outside of your body"
I loved you long before I ever knew you
but
from the moment I laid eyes on you, I realized what love really was...
My life was forever changed for the better. I became selfless.
I am so thankful to be your mommy. So thankful to be there for you no matter what. So thankful to watch you grow and learn new things. So thankful for all of the things you have taught me and for the things you will teach me. So thankful you have such a sweet demeanor and a tender heart, even at such a young age. So thankful you are so incredibly smart. So thankful for everything you are and will become. So thankful for all of the times we have shared together and all of the times yet to come. So thankful for your health. So thankful for the enormous amount of hugs and kisses I get from you everyday. So thankful for your amazing daddy and my amazing husband. So thankful you have a wonderful and loving extended family. So thankful for the person I am because of you. So thankful for your smile that can bring joy to any situation, weather good or bad. So thankful for you.
And though it's not always easy, I am thankful for that as well.
"The decision to have a child is to accept that your heart will forever walk about outside of your body"
I loved you long before I ever knew you
but
from the moment I laid eyes on you, I realized what love really was...
My life was forever changed for the better. I became selfless.
I am so thankful to be your mommy. So thankful to be there for you no matter what. So thankful to watch you grow and learn new things. So thankful for all of the things you have taught me and for the things you will teach me. So thankful you have such a sweet demeanor and a tender heart, even at such a young age. So thankful you are so incredibly smart. So thankful for everything you are and will become. So thankful for all of the times we have shared together and all of the times yet to come. So thankful for your health. So thankful for the enormous amount of hugs and kisses I get from you everyday. So thankful for your amazing daddy and my amazing husband. So thankful you have a wonderful and loving extended family. So thankful for the person I am because of you. So thankful for your smile that can bring joy to any situation, weather good or bad. So thankful for you.
And though it's not always easy, I am thankful for that as well.
Thank you for making our family complete and thank you for helping me live "in the moment"!
I love you precious girl!!
Monday, November 22, 2010
What I am Thankful For Monday
Day 2 of Thanksgiving week...Monday, I am Thankful for my husband, Michael!
Next to God, Michael is the most important person in my life. I love him very, very much and cannot imagine my life without him. Eventhough we have only been together for a total of 5 years, I really don't remember much about my life before him...for me, life started when we met!
We have had good times, sad times, happy times, and bad times...no matter what we've faced it only makes us stronger. I am thankful for ALL of the times we have had together because those experiences have helped us grow and learn as "one flesh" and hopefully we have become better individuals, better partners, and better parents because of them.
"It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings"
~ I love this saying. It is always so easy to be thankful for the good things in life but everyone should also learn to be thankful for the trials, those too can become blessings! Marriage isn't always easy but is always worth the effort. I am thankful to have such an amazing husband who loves me so much!
I feel like Michael has helped mold me into the individual I am today, he has been there for me in some of the hardest times of my life and ALL of the best times of my life, he is the reason I have such a close relationship with God, I know I can count on him no matter what, he is the best father in the world, he provides for Briley and I without expecting anything in return, he always knows how to lift me up when I am down, he is one of the funniest people I have ever known, he truly is a wonderful man, inside and out...the list could go on for days!
Next to God, Michael is the most important person in my life. I love him very, very much and cannot imagine my life without him. Eventhough we have only been together for a total of 5 years, I really don't remember much about my life before him...for me, life started when we met!
We have had good times, sad times, happy times, and bad times...no matter what we've faced it only makes us stronger. I am thankful for ALL of the times we have had together because those experiences have helped us grow and learn as "one flesh" and hopefully we have become better individuals, better partners, and better parents because of them.
"It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings"
~ I love this saying. It is always so easy to be thankful for the good things in life but everyone should also learn to be thankful for the trials, those too can become blessings! Marriage isn't always easy but is always worth the effort. I am thankful to have such an amazing husband who loves me so much!
I feel like Michael has helped mold me into the individual I am today, he has been there for me in some of the hardest times of my life and ALL of the best times of my life, he is the reason I have such a close relationship with God, I know I can count on him no matter what, he is the best father in the world, he provides for Briley and I without expecting anything in return, he always knows how to lift me up when I am down, he is one of the funniest people I have ever known, he truly is a wonderful man, inside and out...the list could go on for days!
I cannot wait to spend 100+ more years with you, Michael. Love you babe!
My Endless Love...(our "1st dance" at our wedding)
Thanksgiving Casseroles!
Mmmmmm.....what would be great with this yummy turkey?!? Casserole's of course!!
In our family, casseroles are very popular on Holiday's! Maybe it's because we are from the South but it seems like every vegetable you would typically have on a normal occasion is cooked in casserole form on Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Without further adieu, here are some (yes I said some, meaning there are more, lol) of the casserole dishes we love to eat on Thanksgiving! Enjoy!
Squash Casserole
1 stick of butter
1 sleeve of Ritz crackers
4-6 medium yellow squash
1 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup shredded cheese OR cubed cheese (I seem to have better luck with shredded cheese)
1 egg - slightly beaten
1 can cream of mushroom
Directions: Cook squash and onion in boiling water until tender. While squash is cooling, melt 1 stick of butter and crumble crackers over and mix. Set aside. Once the squash is cooked, mash with potato masher and drain well. Mix in salt, egg, cheese, and cream of mushroom soup. Pour into small casserole dish. Sprinkle top with cracker/butter mixture. Bake at 350 until top is golden brown and bubbly.
Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
2 boxes or bags of frozen chopped broccoli
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 bags of boil in a bag white rice
1/3 of a 2lb block of Velveeta cheese
Splash of milk (not sure on the amount)
Directions: Cook rice as directed on box. While rice is cooking, cook broccoli as directed on box until tender. Melt velvetta cheese with cream of mushroom soup and a "splash" of milk. You want it to be creamy and cheesy! Mix everything together and pour into small casserole dish. Bake at 350 until bubbly.
Hashbrown Casserole
1 stick of butter
1 onion
1 bag of frozen shredded hashbrowns
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 16oz tub of sour cream
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions: Saute the diced onion in the stick of butter. While you are doing that, combine the hashbrowns, mushroom soup, and sour cream and mix well. Pour the butter/onion mixture over the hashbrown mixture and mix it in. Then add the cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Pour contents into a large casserole dish and bake at 350 until brown and bubbly.
Sweet Potato Casserole
4 cups sweet potatoes (about 4-5 small-medium potatoes)
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs - slightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon of salt
4 tablespoons of butter, softened
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all purpose flour
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions: Cook peeled and chopped sweet potatoes in medium saucepan with enough water to cover. Cook over medium-high heat until tender. Drain and mash. In large bowl, mix together sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk, and vanilla. Mix with mixer until smooth. Transfer into medium baking dish.
For topping, mix sugar and flour. Cut in butter until mixture is course. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle topping mixture over sweet potato mixture. Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 until brown.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
What I am Thankful For Sunday
Day 1 of Thanksgiving week...Sunday, I am Thankful 1st for foremost for God!
Because
Without Him I am nothing...
You are amazing God!
Because
Without Him I am nothing...
You are amazing God!
Whats Been Going On...
Well, here I am again, going 2 weeks in between blogs. I promise to make up for it this week! :o) I'm going to be making a post at least once a day in honor of Thanksgiving to let everyone know what I am Thankful for each day, as well as a few "extras"! Since Thanksgiving week starts today my first post will start tonight! YAY
Here are a few pics from the last few weeks...
Anyway, on to whats been going on....last weekend one of my great friends from college got married. Ashley and her new husband, Max have dated for over 6 years, going on 7 (I think, lol) so this wedding has been a long time coming! I was honored that she asked me to me part of her special day and do a scripture reading. So my bff April and our good friend Carlos headed to Louisiana last Thursday, the 11th. It was a really fun trip. April and I hadn't been on a "girls" trip since the summer of 2005, so needless to say it was a long time coming. I am so grateful that April and I have been able to go on 2 trips together this year, both in just the last 3 months! Hopefully we will be able to go on a trip every 3 months...i'm sure our husbands and our check books would love that idea, ha! Anyway, even though the weekend was about Ashley and Max's big day, we were still able to get some eating, shopping, and girl talk in! Love you Ape! Or as Briley says Apple! lol
From what I hear Briley missed me very much and I defiantly missed her. For some reason I had a really hard time leaving her. I have been away from her before but I guess it has just been a while and we have gotten so close over the last few months. Not that we weren't close before but I feel like the older she gets the more personality she develops and the more she is like a little person as opposed to a baby. Makes me happy and sad at the same time ;o)!!
Monday, the 15th was Michael's 28th birthday!! We had already celebrated with his mom, grandmother, and sister's family the previous weekend, but we went to dinner with my family on his actual b-day. My grandmothers birthday is on the 13th so we usually celebrate their birthdays together anyway. It was a fun night. They both got lots of goodies along with some yummy carrot cake! Happy Birthday Michael and Maw!
Over the last few weeks, I have been busy putting together a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child.
"The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ."
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php
You basically pick up a shoe box at one of the participating churches in your city, choose weather you want the box to go to a boy or a girl, choose an age range and fill the box with toys, personal hygiene items, and candy to help bring joy to a child's life on Christmas. It was so exciting to be part of this and we will defiantly be participating again next year. We choose to give our box to a little girl, age 2-4 years of age since that was closest to our daughters age. You can also include a note to the child and/or a family photo. We didn't include a photo this time, mainly because I never made it to Walgreen's to make a copy but Michael and I did write the sweet little girl a letter. I really hope she enjoys her gifts and I hope it makes her feel special and loved this Holiday Season!
Here are a few pics from the last few weeks...
Sweet girl playing with her popper toy...not sure the real name of it! lol
running around outside! my fav!
I love standing in my chair more than I like sitting in it...
My boss wanted me to make her a turkey arrangement so voila! here it is! Gobble Gobble!
Anyway, on to whats been going on....last weekend one of my great friends from college got married. Ashley and her new husband, Max have dated for over 6 years, going on 7 (I think, lol) so this wedding has been a long time coming! I was honored that she asked me to me part of her special day and do a scripture reading. So my bff April and our good friend Carlos headed to Louisiana last Thursday, the 11th. It was a really fun trip. April and I hadn't been on a "girls" trip since the summer of 2005, so needless to say it was a long time coming. I am so grateful that April and I have been able to go on 2 trips together this year, both in just the last 3 months! Hopefully we will be able to go on a trip every 3 months...i'm sure our husbands and our check books would love that idea, ha! Anyway, even though the weekend was about Ashley and Max's big day, we were still able to get some eating, shopping, and girl talk in! Love you Ape! Or as Briley says Apple! lol
From what I hear Briley missed me very much and I defiantly missed her. For some reason I had a really hard time leaving her. I have been away from her before but I guess it has just been a while and we have gotten so close over the last few months. Not that we weren't close before but I feel like the older she gets the more personality she develops and the more she is like a little person as opposed to a baby. Makes me happy and sad at the same time ;o)!!
Pic with Kim at the rehearsal dinner...sadly I didn't take many photos this weekend :o(
Some of our photos from the photo booth!! So fun!
Monday, the 15th was Michael's 28th birthday!! We had already celebrated with his mom, grandmother, and sister's family the previous weekend, but we went to dinner with my family on his actual b-day. My grandmothers birthday is on the 13th so we usually celebrate their birthdays together anyway. It was a fun night. They both got lots of goodies along with some yummy carrot cake! Happy Birthday Michael and Maw!
Briley at Daddy's birthday dinner
Daddy, Nana, and Briley
Momma, Dada, Briley!
Over the last few weeks, I have been busy putting together a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child.
"The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ."
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php
You basically pick up a shoe box at one of the participating churches in your city, choose weather you want the box to go to a boy or a girl, choose an age range and fill the box with toys, personal hygiene items, and candy to help bring joy to a child's life on Christmas. It was so exciting to be part of this and we will defiantly be participating again next year. We choose to give our box to a little girl, age 2-4 years of age since that was closest to our daughters age. You can also include a note to the child and/or a family photo. We didn't include a photo this time, mainly because I never made it to Walgreen's to make a copy but Michael and I did write the sweet little girl a letter. I really hope she enjoys her gifts and I hope it makes her feel special and loved this Holiday Season!
our box! (bad pic though)
Friday, the 19th Briley and I went to the Holiday Mart with Mamaw (Michael's step-mom). It was my first time going. It was very crowded to say the least, lol! It took me almost 30 minutes to find a parking space, and I'm not exaggerating...but other than that it was very neat. I had no idea it was so big and that there would be so much to see. I also walked away with a few Christmas presents which was nice!
That night we celebrated Michael's birthday with his dad and step-mom at a local hibachi restaurant. Needless to say we were miserable when we left!
ready to go bye bye!
having some lunch! (we usually dont let her eat on the couch but I made an exception that day! lol)
perdy girl!
loving on my little doggy!
Saturday we had planned on going to the TN game but we ended up staying home because we were both so tired. So glad we did because we got so much done here and we were even able to relax since GiGi and Poppy kept Briley all day Saturday. We picked her up today after church. She had a fun time as usual. I ended up cleaning all afternoon today (not fun) but it had to be done! I ended up going grocery shopping tonight to get the thanksgiving groceries for Thursday! Mmmm...makes me hungry just thinking about all of the goodies to come!!
Looking cute as always in my TN attire!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
